re: Dealing with a-hole clients?

I’ve been in sales for almost 20 years. I’ve learned the skill of matching my personality to match my customers. And it works. I can act like a good ole country boy with one guy and then act like a high roller to the next. But what kills me with customers is when you never know what to expect day to day.
I just let one great paying customer walk because of that crap. One day he is inviting me on vacations with him and his family and the next day I was terrible and not taking care of him. After years of it I finally let him walk.

No you set the boundaries unless you are a commodity

2000, worked for company that wouldn't promote me and when I found another job as sales manager gave them the opportunity to match the offer. They came back 10k less and I tendered my resignation. I worked the two weeks to honor my notice and they demanded I work the upcoming trade show (of which my new employer attended as well). At the end of the night the regional approached me and told me I was making a terrible mistake and went on to explain that I was a terrible person for leaving and that I would regret my decision.

This just set me off. I had sales in my pipeline and commissions due per their employment agreement, so I asked what would happen? He laughed and said he canceled all the orders and would not paying commissions to an ex-employee.

Now further enraged, I followed him out into the lobby and we exchanged words before he turned to go get on the elevator to his room, I followed him all the way to the elevator, stuck my foot in the door to a packed elevator and called him a P***y. The reaction of the people on the elevator was priceless, he stormed off the elevator, said I was fired and demanded the keys to the corprate car.

No problem, handed over the keys and then he asks were is it parked? My response was O'Hara airport, longterm parking, its the green Ford, enjoy your shitty job.

Went on to work for the new company for several years, while the other company closed their doors within one year.

Hated that guy and do not regret one thing/moment I said or did.